URC derby time: All the Bulls, Lions, Sharks, Stormers team news

When the United Rugby Championship returns this weekend, South African rugby fans will be treated to two local derbies — between the Lions and Bulls at Ellis Park (3pm) and Sharks and Stormers at Kings Park (5.05pm) — on Saturday.

Here is all the team news as the side’s name their lineups for the matches this weekend:

Sharks:

Eben Etzebeth is ruled out of the match because of knee surgery, but the side welcome back World Cup winner Bongi Mbonambi, who’ll play his first match since leaving the field early in the World Cup final against New Zealand late last year. He’ll play off the bench on Saturday.

Vincent Tshituka is also back in action after a long injury layoff, while former Cheetahs No 10 Siya Masuku could make his debut from the bench.

In total there are seven Boks in the starting team with a further four on the bench.

Stormers:

The Stormers welcome back Evan Roos, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Salmaan Moerat from injury for the trip to Durban, but Frans Malherbe is still out of action.

Dan du Plessis is ruled out with an ankle niggle picked up at training this week. Flyhalf Jurie Matthee will make his first URC appearance, as Manie Libbok is rested.

Roos will start on the side of the scrum, with Hacjivah Dayimani at No 8 and Marcel Theunissen rounding out the loose trio.

Neethling Fouche will lead the team from the front row, with Joseph Dweba and Ali Vermaak alongside him.

Moerat makes his return from a shoulder injury on a replacements bench which also features Wandisile Simelane, who will make his Stormers debut when he takes the field.

Lions:

Lock Etienne Oosthuizen will play his first URC match for the Lions against the Bulls, while Emmanuel Tshituka sadly misses out on the clash because of a hamstring niggle picked up at training on Wednesday.

The very promosing Ruan Venter comes into the starting side for Tshituka, with Izan Esterhuizen shifting on to the bench.

Sanele Nohamba is again at flyhalf with Morne van den Berg at scrumhalf. The side will be captained by Marius Louw.

Bulls:

The Bulls are boosted by the return of Boks Kurt-Lee Arendse and Canan Moodie, but Willie le Roux misses out this week.

Jaco van der Walt is also the man at flyhalf, with Johan Goosen benched. Embrose Papier is at scrumhalf, while Johan Grobbelaar will play at hooker.

Teams for the weekend:

Sharks: Aphelele Fassi, Werner Kok, Lukhanyo Am (capt), Francois Venter, Makazole Mapimpi, Curwin Bosch, Jaden Hendrikse, Phepsi Buthelezi, Lappies Labuschagne, James Venter, Gerbrandt Grobler, Le Roux Roets, Hanro Jacobs, Fez Mbatha, Ox Nche. Bench: Bongi Mbonambi, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Coenie Oosthuizen, Hyron Andrews, Vincent Tshituka, Bradley Davids, Siya Masuka, Aphiwe Dyanty

Stormers: Warrick Gelant, Ben Loader, Suleiman Hartzenberg, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Leolin Zas, Jurie Matthee, Paul de Wet, Hacjivah Dayimani, Evan Roos, Marcel Theunissen, Ruben van Heerden, Adre Smith, Neethling Fouche (capt), Joseph Dweba, Ali Vermaak. Bench: Andre-Hugo Venter, Sti Sithole, Brok Harris, Salmaan Moerat, Ben-Jason Dixon, Herschel Jantjies, Wandisile Simelane, Angelo Davids

Lions: Quan Horn, Richard Kriel, Henco van Wyk, Marius Louw (capt), Edwill van der Merwe, Sanele Nohamba, Morne van den Berg, Francke Horn, Ruan Venter, Hanru Sirgel, Reinhard Nothnagel, Etienne Oosthuizen, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Jaco Visagie, JP Smith. Bench: PJ Botha, Morgan Naude, Conraad van Vuuren, Darrien Landsberg, Izan Esterhuizen, JC Pretorius, Jordan Hendrikse, Erich Cronje

Bulls: Devon Williams, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Stedman Gans, David Kriel, Canan Moodie, Jaco van der Walt, Embrose Papier, Cameron Hanekom, Elrigh Louw, Marco van Staden, Ruan Nortje (capt), Reinhardt Ludwig, Mornay Smith, Johan Grobbelaar, Gerhard Steenekamp. Bench: Akker van der Merwe, Simphiwe Matanzima, Francois Kloppers, Janko Swanepoel, Marcell Coetzee/Sergeal Petersen, Keagan Johannes, Johan Goosen, Mpilo Gumede